Trying to decide which feed to buy for my mixed age flock....

[lindz8504]

http://www.southernstates.com/catalog/p-9950-southern-states-all-grain-meat-bird-maker-50lb.aspx

http://www.southernstates.com/catalog/p-9983-southern-states-tradition-poultry-maintainer-50lb.aspx

These are the only feeds that they carry that aren't a laying blend, or medicated in a 50lb bag. Is one of these what I should be getting or something totally different? I do ferment my feed so I don't really care if it is crumbles or pellets... I just don't want to keep feeding medicated starter when they don't need it!

 

[Cheyen]

Do you have game birds or chickens? One if for quail, pheasants, turkey, and partridge, which has a higher protein content and the other nutritional content may not be suitable for chickens. The other is for meat birds, and has the same, if not more protein than the game bird feed, but is suitable for chickens. I'm pretty sure those are the only differences, so your best bet would be with the all grain meat bird maker, especially if you want fat and sassy hens.

 

[Cheyen]

Also, medicated starter is acceptable for all ages, and will not be detrimental to their health even when they're healthy. It's just a preventative measure in certain diseases such as cocci. However, medicated starter should never be a replacement to actual medication or vaccinations.

 

[Den in Penn]

Go with the maintainer. It may have a higher protein percent then a regular chicken feed, but I believe it will have everything else they would need. Even if the protein is way high, you can cut it down by giving other food like scraps and scratch feeds.

 

[lindz8504]

Actually the maintainer only has 15% protein.... the meat bird has 20%.... I decided to go with the higher protein.